What type of lumber should I buy to make a quality cedar chest?
by Author on Thursday, May 27th, 2010 | 5 Comments
I am making a cedar chest for my granddaughter. Can I use cedar lumber like they sell at Lowe's, or do I need a better grade?
What would be the best thickness of lumber for a quality chest? I was thinking of having it finish at 1" thick. I want to buy rough lumber and plane it myself. What would be the best size boards to buy?
What type of joint is the best to use for the corners of a chest like this?
Thanks!
Is the entire chest going to be cedar or cedar lined. Most chests Ive seen are cedar lined. That way the outside wood can match the wood of the other furniture. If its solid cedar you may want a better grade or it may have a bit of a rustic look to it. (unless thats what you want).
1 inch thick will make the chest very heavy. 3/4 wood (of choice) with 1/4 cedar lining is how most commercial chests are made. Use dovetails on the corners, they’re not only decorative but very strong.
That depends on how nice you want it to be vs. how difficult it is to get high quality cedar. Lowes cedar is good, but not great. Better cedar can be found at a woodworker’s lumber yard (which may not be nearby) and will be more expensive.
If you use solid wood for the sides & bottom (as opposed to plywood) the sides and bottom need to float in a frame to allow for the wood expanding & contracting with the seasons. If you don’t the chest will literally pry itself apart. There is too much to explain, so look for a plan online for a solid wood cedar chest. It’s worth the cost and it will answer all your design questions.
I suggest you consider this video.
http://www.newyankee.com/getproduct.php?104
You might also consider this site:
http://www.woodcraft.com/Search/Search.aspx?query=aromatic cedar
Typically cedar chests are lined with cedar not made from solid cedar but aromatic cedar such as the site above.
the folks at Lowe’s or home depot can assist you with acquiring the right lumber. i would chose an A grade cut or higher if you can get it, then she can give it to her granddaughter. also if you know how a dovetail joint lasts the longest, shows the best craftsmanship and makes a really quality product. good luck and good building
it all depends on how big you want it i made a nice cedar chest about the size of a blanket chest at the end of a bed i got my wood at a lumber mill and also planed it myself but remember after you plane it you need to joint it to get a nice flat square side then cut it to the length you want it i would use either a butt joint or a dove tail but with the butt i would use screws and counter sink them not wood glue after a few months the wood where you glued will start to come apart and the wood will start to crack now with the dove tail it not only looks great but if she chose to sell it she could get a lot more for it because of the style but i would leave about 2” inches at the top and bottom for like a butt joint and use a dowel rod and then use a strong glue like gurilla for the dowel, butt, and dove tail and then sand the excess glue of and be sure to stain it when its finished you will not only get the nice cedar smell but a nice color to it also be sure to pick the wood your self other wise you might get some old rotted or cracked wood